Cleanup starts in Karachi’s Empress Market after anti-encroachment drive

KARACHI: The Karachi Municipal Authority has commenced cleanup of rubble in the Empress Market after over 1,000 shops were razed to the ground in an anti-encroachment drive, Municipal Commissioner Saifur Rehman said.

Authorities in the metropolis started an operation against land encroachments after an order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Officials say it could take up to five more days for authorities to clear over 100,000 tonnes of rubble from the cleanup operation at the site. 

By Sunday, 1043 illegal shops were demolished during the operation (KMC) Anti-Encroachment Senior Director Bashir Ahmed Siddiqui had said.

During the operation, shops located in the bird market, cloth market and dried fruit market were removed using heavy machinery.

“After the drive, KMC and the police will set up camps in Saddar to ensure that the encroachments do not return.”

Siddiqui added, “A task force has been created to stop the encroachments in Saddar which will comprise KMC, anti-encroachment and police members.”

Various shopkeepers have protested the move and also faced off with officials during the anti-encroachment drive. They also demanded that they be compensated by providing them with an alternate land.

‘Will restore Karachi to its natural, historic beauty’

Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar while speaking to media outside Empress Market on Sunday, said that KMC will restore Karachi to its natural and historical beauty.

Speaking about the land given by KMC to markets around Empress Market, the mayor said the 30-year-old contract between KMC and the markets had been terminated.